I think the main festival in my country is Christmas, which is in late December. The main day that is celebrated in the UK is Christmas Day, on 25th December, though we also have the day off the following day, on Boxing Day, when many people visit friends and extended family.

I spent last Christmas with my family, and will also spend this one there too. We all get together at my parents’ house because it is large enough to host everyone. On Christmas morning, we start preparing the meal, as it takes a long time to cook! We put the turkey or goose in the oven, and then some of us go to church for a Christmas mass. The rest of us stay behind to carry on cooking. At around midday, we gather around the Christmas tree, which is decorated with baubles, tinsel, and fairy lights and we open our presents, which are all placed under the tree the night before. After that, we have our Christmas dinner, which is always the same meal as it is a traditional feast.

I love nearly everything about Christmas. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement in the period leading up to Christmas, and then during the festival, itself families and friends spend time together and most people have time off work. One thing I don’t like about Christmas is that it is very commercialized and it can be stressful getting ready for it!

This festival is important for many people, even for non-Christians. Many non-Christian people in the UK enjoy the festive season without attaching any religious significance to it. It is our only national holiday involving resting, feasting, and the giving of gifts, and I think such times nurture our souls.